Arsenal News 24/7Writer: Amos 
Date:Friday October 22 2010
Time: 12:09PM
UK time is: 15:35:42
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Injuries not worse than others
It seems to have been such a feature of the last 2 or 3 seasons with injury depriving us of key players at key times that the view we are lacking something in our medical set up was one that was bound to gain popular currency. As Gazidis promised supporters and shareholders a complete and ongoing review last season it seems that by the time we had reached this year`s AGM the conclusion of that review was that our existing medical team was up to the task.
"We have a very competent medical staff," said Wenger at yesterday`s AGM. "We analyse and check every training method we can. Overall, if you look at all the numbers, ours are not much more. What we have more is long-term injuries than other clubs but they are down to bad luck and bad tackling. Or they were picked up with the national team. Also once you have had an injury there are more chances to be injured again. If you pull a hamstring, the more chance you have of injuring your hamstring again."
At the same event Wenger inadvertently exacerbated current sensitivities to the injury issue by feeding doubts about Vermaelen`s injury in saying that we didn`t know when he would be back. Quickly sensing the need to settle fast spreading internet rumours that Thomas would be out for the season he later clarified the situation in an ATVO interview.
"Vermaelen will still need two or three weeks," said the Arsenal manager "His injury is not a long-term concern, but at the start we thought it was a question of days and now it is six weeks. You can't say it is not a concern at all. We are a bit concerned, but he has had a final treatment that we think could kill it."
As things stand, with the recent return of Walcott and Bendtner from long term injury and all being well the return of van Persie and Vermaelen along with Aaron Ramsey next month, that still leaves the business end of the season in front of the squad. We are due a change of fortune on the injury front. Not only in terms of their longevity but as crucially the timing has seemed to deprive us of key players when we`ve needed them most. Let`s hope we get that change of fortune because it seems there`s not much more we can do on the medical front to improve things.
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Your Comments
I dont know if i agree on the numbers to be honest with you. I often look at physio room and we always seem to be top or within the top 3 teams with injured players. A quick look in to each team suggests we have had more injuries since august than any other team. (22 according to the site). Im not suggesting in anyway its is down to our medical team either, but more our style of play attracts more tackles. Nimble players with quick feet getting caught and of course some bad tackles to stop them.
paul_ownz
Vermaelen's problem (so I've heard) is an achilles issue which is apparently notorious for having a very slow healing process, so I'm not surprised he's taking much longer than originally thought. As for the rest--whatever the causes are, the significant issue is that in the last 4-5 seasons, injuries have been a MAJOR (if not the most important) cause of our inability to sustain a push toward a trophy to the very end. We had injuries during AW's first trophy-winning seasons but not to this extent--we had a midfield and a defense and a forward line that had a long, consistent run of games playing together so that they built a rhythm and understanding to get past the finish line and lift that trophy. Or at least reach a final. So until that changes, I can't see this team winning anything--or even reaching a final.
jaelle
Good point, paul -- also, sometimes Physioroom under-reports our injuries. Earlier this week they had 5 of our players were out when it was actually 7.
jaelle
Good point, paul -- also, sometimes Physioroom under-reports our injuries. Earlier this week they had 5 of our players were out when it was actually 7.
jaelle
Surely a Smiths title was relevant?
Tom14
Physioroom is a guide and a pretty good one but not something you can really use to make confident comparisons. For example they show Frimpong as an absentee but he isn't a first team player. The site compiles its information from media sources not directly from the clubs themselves which is why they are sometimes under reported or not up to date but that's the case for all clubs not just Arsenal figures. Some clubs figures are consistently under reported due to lack of public domain information.
Amos.
Sorry for the double post.
jaelle
Over on Untold they have been running a series of articles detailing the injury comparisons between the top teams. It's updated after each game and the data is compiled, i believe, from the clubs own websites. I suggest taking a look.
insider says
Here's the Birmingham injury review - http://blog.emiratesstadium.info/archives/8427 - Others can be found if you go to the right hand side menu, under Pages - The Games. Or search Injury index.
insider says
My problem is not with the amount or extent of injuries, but the diagnosis and analysis. I don't think any player comes back on time, on schedule back from injury. Cesc was supposed to be 2 days short against Chelsea , yet didnt play almost 2 weeks later. Same for RvP. This has been a trend over the past 3 seasons, when I first noticed this disturbing trend. Fair enough, injuries happen, but once they happen, does the club have a team that can assess the extent of the damage properly, and evaluate the comeback period? I dont think so.
prits
It's frustrating but pretty much the same for all other medical teams though. We don't follow other teams as closely but they all have similar problems. Players not healing as quickly or suffering secondary injuries is a pretty common occurence.
Amos.
On a totally different subject, HAPPY BIRTHDAY ARSENE!! Sometimes he infuriates me but I can't help it, I adore that man!
jaelle
phsio room is crap.......
rovinella62spurs
...Yours, rovinella62?? Well, wrong site, sir.
Naijagunner
naijegunner did you read the other comments on the article....read paul_ownz and amos' comments and see what im talking about or dont you know about the physio room site.....or you thought the comment was personal?...no time for that brov
rovinella62spurs
Arsenal do get some bad injuries. Is it really the physio's fault? On a similar note: how much do you guys rotate your line up?
ChelseaDC
nb;,,,what was being mentioned by amos and myself is a site called...physio room .co.uk where you can check on clubs injured and when they are due back...ffs
rovinella62spurs
Rovinella62, point taken; jibe retracted. Don't blame me. The antecedents of some other spurs fans on this site have resulted in my taking their every post with suspicion. Cheers, mate.
Naijagunner
dont i know it!!!!!!!!!!!from all sides...dont take it that far though...
rovinella62spurs
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